Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, has been making waves in the political arena recently, especially after the most recent Presidential Election. Some have praised his involvement, while others, like Michael Lohscheller, the CEO of Polestar, have been critical of Musk’s political activities.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Lohscheller expressed his disapproval of Musk’s support for right-wing political parties, stating that it has turned off some consumers. He mentioned that many people have negative sentiments towards Musk’s political affiliations, especially in Germany where endorsing right-wing parties is a sensitive issue.
As a result, Polestar is now targeting disgruntled Tesla owners who are put off by Musk’s political views. Lohscheller has instructed sales associates to capitalize on this opportunity and attract customers who are looking for an alternative to Tesla.
Lohscheller did not mince words when expressing his opinion on Musk’s political involvement, calling it “pure arrogance” and “totally unacceptable.” He believes that Musk’s actions will not work in his favor and that consumers will reject his behavior.
While it is true that some people may choose not to buy products based on political views, Tesla had its best quarter ever in Q4 despite Musk’s political activities. This suggests that, for some consumers, the quality and innovation of the product may outweigh their concerns about the CEO’s political leanings.
Overall, the clash between Musk and Lohscheller highlights the intersection of business and politics in today’s world. It remains to be seen how this rivalry will impact the sales and reputation of both Tesla and Polestar in the long run.